Automobile running-gear.



J. EGKHARDQ AUTOMOBILE RUNNING GEAR.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY-12, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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AUTOMOBILE RUNNING GEAR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY12,1 909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented- Aug. 2, 1910.

JOHN EGKHARD, 0F BOST01\T,- MASSACHUSETTS.

AUTOMOBILE RUNNING-GEAR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 2, 1910.

Application filed July 12, 1909. Serial No. 507,081.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that'I, JOHN ECKHARD, a citizen of the United States,residing at Boston, county of Sufiolk, State of Massachusetts, and whosepost-office address is No. 504 East Fourth street, South Boston,Massachusetts, have invented an Improvem ent in Automobile Running-Gear,of which will not be subjected to any strain due to the twisting of thechassis frame. I accomplish my object by mounting the motor and thetransmission on separate auxiliary frames which are supported'in a novelmanner so that they can move relatively to the main chassis frame. I

I will first'describe one embodiment of my invention and then point outthe novel features thereof in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical central section through anautomobile frame having my improvements applied thereto, said sectionbeing'taken on substantially the line w'u', Fig. 2; Fig. 2 is a planview of Fig.1. 4

The main or chassis frame is shown at 3 and it may have any suitable orusual construction. Vhere the transmission gear and the motor are bothrigidly sustainedby the chassis frame, any twisting of the frame, suchas inevitably occurs where one of the wheels of the automobile runs overan obstruction, is very liable to put an injurious strain on the motoror transmission gear or both, and it sometimes happens that such strainissuflicient to crack the motor base or to injure the transmission. Inmy present invention I-avoid any such injury by mounting the motor andthe transmission on two separate auxiliary frames, (one of which I termthe motor-supporting frame, and the other of which I term thetransmission-supporting frame) each of which is capable of movementrelative to the main chassis frame so that if the chassis fmme'issubjected to any twisting, the motor-Sup ,porting andtransmission-supporting frames can adjust themselves to the twist ordistortion without putting any injurious strain on any of the parts. Thepreferred embodiment of my invention is one wherein each of theauxiliary frames is' rigidly secured at one end to the main or chassisframe and is .pivotally secured at the other end to said frame.

In the present embodiment of my invention the motor-supportingframe'comprises two side sills 4, the front end of each of which isrigidly secured'to the cross-bar 6 of the chassis frame at 5, and therear ends ofv which are secured to a yoke 7 which is pivotally securedto a cross-piece 8 extending between the two side sills of the mainframe and forming part thereof. The pivotal connection between the yoke7 and the cross-piece may be provided for in a variety of ways, and Ihave herein shown it ascomprising a pivotal pin 9 which is sustained inthe cross-piece 8 and which extends through.

the yoke 7. This motor-suppm'ting frame is adapted to support the motor,which has been omitted from the drawings in order to avoid confusion. Aportion of the motor shaft, however, is shown at 10,- and this isconnected to the driving shaft 16 by means of a friction clutch 11 ofany suitable or usual construction and which may be actuated by asuitable clutch actuator. The clutch actuator-is in the form of arock-shaft 13 journaled in bearings 14 sustained by the motor-supportingframe, and having the yoke 15 thereon whichgengages a groove in,

the hub of one of the clutch members whereby rocking movement of therock-shaft will disengage the clutch or permit it to be engaged. Thedriving shaft 16 extends to the transmission gear of any appropriatetype that is inclosed in a gear casing 20 that is sustained by thetransmission-supporting frame. As stated above, thetransmissionsupporting frame is also connected to the chassis so thatsaid frame can have a movement relative to the chassis thereby toprevent any injurious strain being put on the transmission gear if thechassis twists slightly In the preferred embodiment of my inventionthis'auxiliary transmissionsupporting frame comprises the two side sills.17 which are connected at their rear ends to the cross sill 18extending between the two side sills of the chassis frame and which areconnected at their front ends to a yoke 19, that in turn is pivotallyconnected to the chassis. I find it convenient to pivotally connect theyoke 19 to the chassis frame by means of the pivotal pm 9 which is usedto pivotally connect the yoke 7 to supporting frame. This manner ofconnecting the motorsupporting and transmissionsupporting frames to themain frame permits the .main chassis frame to twist more or less inpassing over obstructions without. putting any injurious strain oneither of the auxiliary frames.

25 is the lever by which the transmission gearing is shifted to securethe different speeds. This lever is pivoted to the motorsupporting frameat 26 and extends up through the usual H-slot formed in a frame 28 thatis supported by the main chassis frame. The H-slothas associatedtherewith a slide 27 which is connected by rods 30 with actuators 31that lead to the transmission gearing, and ;by which said gearing isshifted to secure the desired change of speed. It will be seen that thelever 25 and its associated parts are mounted partly on the t'ansmissionframe and partly on the main chassis frame.

My improved running gear is flexible and is especially adapted for largeheavy trucks.

I have shown herein one embodiment only of my invention and have notattempted to show the various ways in which it might be embodied.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. In a running gear for automobiles, thecombination with a main frame having a cross bar, of a motor-sustainingframe situated at one side of the cross bar and pivotally connectedthereto at one end, the other end of said motor-sustainii'ig frame beingrigidly connected to the main frame,

and.a transmission-sustaining frame independent from themotor-sustaining frame situated on the opposite side of the cross barand pivotally connected at. one end thereto, the other end of saidtransmissionsustaining frame being rigidly connected to the main frame.

2. In an automobile, the combination with a main frame, of atransmission-snstaining frame flexibly connected thereto,.anindependentmotor-sustaining frame also flexibly connected to the main frame, anactuator for ad usting the gears of the transmission carried by thetransmission-susta1ning frame, and a controlling lever therefor pivotedto the motor-sustaining frame.

3. In an automobile, the combination with a main frame, of atransmission-sustaining frame flexiblv connected thereto, an independentlnotor-sustaining frame also flexibly connected to the main frame, anactuator for adjusting the gears of the transmission carried by thetransmission-sustaining frame, a slide connected to said actuator andsustained by the main chassis frame, and a leverope'ated by said slideand pivoted to the motor-sustaining frame.

s1. In an automobile, the combination with a main frame, of atransmissionsustaining frame flexibly connected to the main frame, anihdependcnt motor-sustaining frame also flexibly connected to the mainframe, a main driving clutch sustained by the motor-sustaining frame, anactuator for. said clutch also carried by said frame, an actuator foradjusting the gears of the transmission carried by thetransmissionsustaining frame, a controlling lever. a slide actuated bysaid lever. and connected-to said latter actuator, said slide beingsustained by the main frame.

5. In an automobile. the combination with a main frame, of atransmissionsustaining frame flexibly comiected to the main frame, anindependent motor-sustaining fram also flexibly connected to the mainframe. a main driving clutch sustained by the motor-sustaining frame, anactuator for said clutch also carried by said frame, an actuator foradjusting the gears of the transmission carried by thetransmission-sustaining frame, a slide sustained by the main frame andoperat-ively connected to said latter actuator.

and a controlling lever pivotally connected to the motor-sustainingframe and adapted to actuate said slide.

6. In a running gear for automobiles, the combination with a main framehaving a cross bar, of a motor sustaining frame, situated on one side ofthe cross bar and comprising two side sills which are rigidly connectedat one end to the main frame and are connected at the other end by ayoke which is pivoted to the crossv bar. and a transmission-sustainingframe situated on the opposite side of the cross bar and comprising twoside sills that are separate from the. main frame but are rigidlyconnected at one end thereto and are. connected at their opposite endsby a yoke which is also pivoted to the cross bar of the. mainframe.

In testimony whereof. I have signed my name to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN ECKIIARD.

Witnesses LOUlS C. Sm'ru, THOMAS .J. I)RUMMOND.

